Despite claims Trout does not promote himself enough, he does have an engaged social media followingGETTY IMAGES
Sunday's episode of ESPN's "E:60" took a dive into the issue of Angels CF Mike Trout's marketability, which MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred brought up on multiple occasions around the All-Star Game earlier this month. MLB Network's Bob Costas noted Trout is the "best all-around player in the game right now," but he is "not as famous" as Yankees RF Aaron Judge despite Judge having played less than two full seasons. Costas said, "The only way that that gets corrected is if the Angels get to a World Series or deep into the playoffs." Much has been made about the need for Trout to embrace social media, and ESPN's Bob Ley countered the argument that Trout is "not promoting himself nor his game" by noting he "does have 2.5 million Twitter followers and about 1 million Facebook followers and likes." Angels VP/Communications Tim Mead said, "I know there's a lot of people that would like to see the commercialization of Mike on a much grander scale. That's not what he is about." Trout himself talked about being the face of baseball and said, "I take pride in that. I want to be named the best player on the field at all times. I like to be a role model for kids. The feeling when you get an autograph from a guy, it goes a long way. If I could make a kid smile and change a kid's day, I'll do it. It means a lot to me" ("E:60," ESPN, 7/29).
REAL BIG FISH: In San Diego, Nick Canepa wrote MLB "doesn't have all that much to market and it would love to chum" Trout, but he "doesn't take the bait." Trout is "the least" of Manfred's problems. Maybe if MLB was "less hung up on stupid, dry computer numbers and more than a few teams played juicy, exciting baseball," Manfred would have the "best marketing tool in the shed" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 7/29). In N.Y., Phil Mushnick wondered what is preventing MLB "from marketing -- selling -- Trout as a good example of the complete team player when such are trending extinct?" Mushnick: "Why can't MLB do what Trout is hesitant to do?" (N.Y. POST, 7/29).
